Question
Hi Darlene,
I am a little bit confused with the light needs of the plants. I am planning to buy some plants as I don't have too many and can't figure out what light I have... what plant I should get...
I live in Las Vegas, so we have probably 400 sunny days a year (just kidding:). My house has east facing windows (bedroom and kitchen) and west facing windows (family room and office). No south facing windows and I have a couple north facing ones. Now my problem comes in: I have solar screens on all my windows, except one kitchen window. These are not regular window screens for bugs, but 90% solar screens. They definitely help with the electric bill during summer but makes my whole house a little dim, especially during winter. I don't know what kind of plants I should buy and where to position them (how far from the window). For example I buy a dragon tree (Draceana m.) which is medium light plant. Can I place the plant in my bedroom (east window) 6 feet from the window so it does not get hit directly by the filtered sun, or would that be too dim and I should position it so it will be hit buy the filtered sun for a couple of hours in the morning (right by the window). I have only one window in that room. Or should I place it in the office, that has the west facing window. What plant could handle being in the "direct" but screen-filtered sun in a west facing window in the Las Vegas desert? I have philodendrons and pothos plants in my kitchen (on the top of my wall cabinets) and they are doing pretty good but I need some more plants in the house. I am going to buy the easy houseplants only, but don't know what low light means in my situation. I am afraid that my bedroom doesn't have enough light because of the screens... I was thinking of getting Peace lily, snake plant, spider plant, draceanas, zz plant etc.
Also could I keep any high light plant in my house?
Thank you,
Maria

Answer
Maria,

With those screens I would keep low light plants within 3 feet of the east or west windows, medium light plants next to those windows and you can put low light plants right next to the north facing ones, especially large windows.

High light plants you can try one next to a large west window and see how it does, but only try one at a time, like a hibiscus that you can move outside during the summer and if it does not do well you are not loosing a lot but if it does well you will really enjoy the blooms during the winter.

The Peace lily, snake plant, spider plant, draceanas, zz plant should all do fine indoors by the east or west windows. Good luck.

Darlene